IB skill practice

Use gravitational field strength and potential concepts

Paper 1, Paper 2 5 marks Difficulty 3

Gravitational field strength

A planet in a hydrogen spectrum analysis has mass \(5.6\times 10^{24}\,\text{kg}\). A probe is \(6.7\times 10^{6}\,\text{m}\) from its centre. Use \(G=6.67\times 10^{-11}\,\text{N m}^{2}\text{kg}^{-2}\). Calculate the gravitational field strength. Enter the numerical result and choose the interpretation that matches the physics meaning.

Worked practice: physics data and result

Read the physical quantities first, then calculate the result and state what it means.